Speed responsive device



Sept 6, 19490 L. J. BULLIET SPEED RESPONSIVE DEVICE Filed Oct. 6, 194

Patented Sept. 6, i949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE srnED ,REsPoNsIvE DEVICE Leander Jackson Bulliet, Rockford, Ill. Application October 6, 1943, Serial No. 505,088

This invention relates to speed responsive devices, or electricaltachometers. This application in part isv a continuation of my application Serial No. 442,341, filed May 9, 1942, and now abandoned.' c i A common form'of electrical tachometer comrising a generator and meter, is widely and successfully used where the rotative speed to be measured exceeds about two hundred revolutions per minute. At lower speeds, and particularly in the range below twenty-five revolutions per minute, the frequency of the voltage generated by the usual alternating current tachometer generator is so low that it cannot be read accurately on a voltmeter, nor can it be reliably used to actuate a control relay. Such a low frequency is, in reality, a slow succession of voltage bursts which show up on the meter as a series of wide needle swings which cannot be precisely read. This difliculty is not overcome by using a direct current generator because a generator of that type has discrete poles, 'andthe pulses are still present. The low frequency difliculties inherent in the conventional tachometers are overcome in the present invention.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus of simple and inexpensive character to respond accurately and promptly tov speeds of movement much lower than those to which conventional apparatus respond. I

Another object. of the invention is to provide an electrical speed responsive device whose electrical output is an alternating current, the frequency of which is high enough to actuate commercial e1ectrical indicating and control equipment even whenthe device is driven at a very low speed. l

A further object of the invention'is to provide :an electrical tachometer which will indicate accurately rotative speeds far below those which are capable of being indicated by conventional tachometers. I

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout the progress of the following specification.

The accompanying drawing illustrates a selected embodiment of the present invention and the views therein are as follows:

Fig. 1 is a detail elevational view of the improved responsive device embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail plan view thereof; v

Fig. 3 is a detail end view looking at the right end of Fig. 1;

1 Claim. (01. 322-97) Fig. 4 is a. detail sectional view taken substan-f tially along the line 44 of Fig. 2; v

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional View taken substantially along the line -5--5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional View taken substantially along the line 6--6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. '7 is a detail sectional view of a modified form of generator adapted for use with the pros ent speed responsive device;

Fig. 8 is a circuit diagram showing a modified form of metering arrangement for measuring the output of the generator; and

Fig. 9 is a circuit diagram showing another modified formv of metering arrangement for measuring the output of the generator.

The particular speed responsive device herein shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention may comprise an alternating current generator I, of any well known type. Axially extending journals 2 and 3, Fig. 4, are receivablein up right supports 4 and 5 to provide suitable bearlugs for the journals. These journals or shafts 2 and 3 extend outwardly from the housing 6, and cap I2.

The housing 6 contains and supports a core structure I of ferro-magnetie material. A coil 8 is wound around the core structure I and is supported thereby. The ends of the winding of coil 8 are permanently connected, respectively, to slip rings 9 and II] which are supported and electrically separated by the insulating ring I I.

A cap I2 fits on the housing 6 and is secured thereto by screws threaded into the lugs 23. The cap I2 is bored to receive a bearing I 4 for the rotor shaft I5 whichcarries a rotor I6 consisting of a bracket H, a permanent magnet I8 and two soft iron pole pieces I9, I9. An alternating voltage is generated in the coil 8 and appears at the slip rings 9 and I I], when the rotor I {i is turned by its shaft I5 relative to the pole structure 7.

The upright supports l and 5 may be secured to a base 20 which also supports a constant speed driving device 2|. This speed driving device is preferably an alternating current synchronous motor supplied :by alternating current of constant frequency. The shaft of device or motor ZI' is coupled through a flexible coupling 22 to the rot-or shaft I5 of the generator I. e

The base 20 also supports an insulating block 23 to which collector brushes Z4 and 25 and binding posts 26 and 21 are secured. The brushes 2H and 25 bear upon the slip rings 53 and Iii, and these brushes serve to conduct such voltage as may be present between the slip, rings to bindin posts 26 and. 21. Conductors28' and 29 connect the binding posts to a measuring instrument 3!] which may be a voltmeter of any conventional construction and suitable range.

A shaft 3| eXtends beyond the journal 3 for the purpose of turning bodily the housing 6 and cap l2. This shaft 3| is adapted to be coupled to a rotating member such as a shaft 32, the speed of which is to be measured. The shaft 32, whose speed is to be determined, is shown coupled to the shaft 3| by a suitable coupling 33.

As an example to illustrate the operation of the device, let it be assumed that the parts are disposed as just described and the motor 2| is running at a predetermined constant speed, and that the input shaft 3|, and hence the housing 6, is not rotating. The rotor it of the generator therefore, is driven, at motor speed by the motor 2|, by the rotor shaft f5. The rotation of the rotor between the ends of the Stationary core,

structure I will then generate a voltage in the coil 8 which will beconducted by the slip rings 9 and 0, the brushes 24 and 25, the binding posts 26. and 21 and the. conductors 28 and 29 to the voltmeter 30. The needle of the voltmeter 3i! then will show a. deflection. Since the motor speed is constant, the generated voltage, and hence the voltmeter deflection, will remain constant so long as the housing is not turned. The speed of the motor 2| is so chosen that the frequency of the datum voltage is well within the frequency range which the meter 30 will accommodate. For convenience, the voltage generated with the housing 6 stationary will hereinafter be referred to as the datum voltage and the corresponding meter needle deflection will be called the datum deflection.

When the input shaft 3| is rotated by the member 32, the housing and the cap l2 will rotate and carry the core structure 1 with them. If such rotation is in a direction to increase relative rotary speed between the generator rotor and the core structure, the resulting generated voltagev will then begreater than the datum voltage and the deflection of the needle in the meter 30, will be greater than the datum deflection. Conversely, if the input shaft 3| is rotated in the opposite direction, the voltmeter deflection will be less than the datum deflection. Thus, the amount by which the needle on the voltmeter 39 departs from its datum deflection is a measure of the rotary speed of the input shaft 3|. The speed of the motor 2| is such as to produce the datum voltage at a frequency well re moved from both limits of the frequency accommodation range of the voltmeter 39. Thus the relatively small increase or decrease of frequency of the generated voltage, caused by slow rotation of the shaft 3|, doesnot affect the accuracy of the meter reading. The slowest speed that, may be detected by this device is a matter of meter sensitivity and is not at all a question of generated frequency as is the case with the usual generatin tachometers. Obviously, any suitable meter may be substituted for the indicating voltmeter 30, and if a permanent record is desired, a recording meter may be used.

The conductors 28 and 29 may be connected to marginal relays or contact making voltmeters or other voltage sensitive control devices if it is desired to initiate control functions in response to predetermined speeds of the shaft 32.

Where the speed to be measured is so low that the departure from the datum voltage is too small to observe conveniently or record on a meter with sufficient voltage range to accept the datum voltage, it is desirable to measure the output of the generator by a suitable suppressed zero instrument or circuit. A suppressed zero voltmeter indicates only the amount of voltage above a predetermined voltage and spreads this departure over a wide range of scale values.

One suppressed zero device which may be used, is shown in Fig. 8, wherein the conductors 28a and 29a correspond, respectively, to the conductors 28 and: 29 of Fig. 2 and serve to conduct the electrical output of the generator to the alternating current input of the rectifier 34. The direct current output of the rectifier 34 is connected in. series with a suitable current measurin inimpressed across the entire coil 36.

strument 35, and then across an adjustable portion of. the potentiometer coil 36. A constant direct currentvoltage, somewhat greater than the datum voltage" ofthe tachometer generator, is With the motor 2| running, and the input shaft 3| stationary, the. potentiometer slider 31. may be adjusted for zero reading of the, instrument 35. If the input shaft. 3| is. now turned in such direction as to increase. the generated, voltage, the in-. strument 35 will show'a deflection which is a measurev of the departure, fromthe datum voltage which is, as explained previously, a measure of the rotational speed of shaft,3.|.

If the Slider 31, is adjusted forsome reading of the instrument 35, other than zero, with datum voltage impressed, then rotations of the shaft in a direction to reduce generated voltage may be read as a reduction of needle deflection.

The instrument 35 may be very sensitive since q it does not have to accomm date the datum voltage. Thus very lowspeed may be indicated by large needle deflections. Here again, a sensitive recording instrument may replace the indicating instrument, or sensitive relays may be used to give controlling response, to Ve y slow movement.

In actual practice it has sometimes been advisable touse an alternative form of suppressed zero device, shown in Figure 9, wherein a fixed I resistance 38 is connected across the. output of is desirable to eliminate, them where possible.

' In Fig. 7 there is shown a modified form of tachometer generator which can be used in connection with the present invention, therebeing no need for sliding electrical connections.

A coil I90, Fig. 7 is wound upon a spool llli of soft iron, which is rigidly at ached to the staa y ho sing as by s rews 3. A redufied portion I04 of the spool |0| is received through a hole in a rotatable 1 0 Piece H15 and forms a a i g a d pp rt or the ht-ha e o the pole piece. Another pole piece N76 has a hole which slips over a reduced portion I04 at the other end of the spool |0| The two pole pieces I05 and. H15 are mechanicall united by a non-magnetic bracket Hi1. Thus, the two pole pieces I 5 and H15 nd h b ack t Iii r a rotating member which rotates about the axis of the generator and is supported by the spool |3| which in turn is supported by the housing I02 on the base H18. An input shaft mg extends through a bearing in the right end of the housing I02 and this shaft is secured rigidly to the bracket I01. Turning of the shaft I09 will rotate the pole faces about the axis of the generator. The left ends of the pole pieces I05 and I06 embrace the rotor pole pieces H and Ill.

The coil in the modified generator shown in Fig. 7 is stationary so that the coil leads H2 and H3 can be permanently connected to the voltmeter 30, or other measuring or control device, without the need for sliding connections. The magnetic circuit passes longitudinally through the spool IBI between the pole pieces I and I06.

The invention provides an indicating, recording or controlling tachometer which is capable of measuring very low speeds. The sensitivity is such that such low speeds are indicated upon a long range meter scale so that very accurate readings may be made. The device comprises a small number of simple parts which may be manufactured at low cost and assembled readily into a compact and conveniently handled unit.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the followin claim.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

An electric tachometer comprising a support, a permanent magnet providing a pair of opposed poles, a core having a pair of arms forming pole pieces for cooperation with the poles of said magnet to form a magnetic circuit comprising said magnet and said core, means including a shaft drivingly connected with and supporting said permanent magnet for rotation, between said pole pieces, on an axis extending medially between said poles and said pole pieces, means including a shaft drivingly connected with and supporting said core for rotation on said axis and about said magnet, said shafts being in coaxial alignment, a bearing mounted on said support for carrying the shaft driving the permanent magnet, a second bearing mounted on said support for carrying said second mentioned shaft, a conductor coil inductively coupled with said core, means to drive one of said shafts at a shaft speed to be measured, means to drive the other shaft at a constant speed rate substantially higher than the shaft speed to be measured, whereby to generate an alternating voltage in said coil proportional to the speed difference of said shafts, and voltage suppressing means connected with said conductor coil and providing, for all shaft speeds, a proportional reduction of said voltage for application on a voltage meter havin an operating range less than the average voltage generated in said 0011 during operation.

LEANDER JACKSON BULLIET.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 634,937 Buck Oct. 17, 1899 1,751,538 Wunsch Mar. 25, 1930 2,217,856 Brady Oct. 15, 1940 2,232,751 Wilson Feb. 25, 1941 2,285,463 Ridgeway June 9, 1942 2,301,115 Gilbert Nov. 3, 1942 2,325,401 Hurlston July 27, 1943 2,376,421 Drake May 22, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 58,796 Sweden Nov. 2, 1920 486,101 Great Britain Aug. 27, 1936 

